Hot wheels

Wheelchair athlete Eric Anderson is on a roll. The South Philly resident will head to Louisville, Ky., next Friday to compete in the United States Quad Rugby Association’s Division II National Championship Tournament.

This marks the first time in 14 years that his Magee Eagles — a wheelchair rugby team sponsored by Magee Rehabilitation Hospital and the Philadelphia Eagles — will be competing at nationals. The squad, based out of the Carousel House at Belmont Drive and North Concourse Drive in Fairmount Park, advanced by finishing the regular season 12-2, and placing third in last month’s Atlantic Region Sectional playoffs, held in Sarasota, Fla.

Anderson, 25, whose legs are paralyzed and who has limited motion in his fingers, was named to the All-Tournament team and won the Nick Price Spirit of the Game award for sportsmanship.

"I was very surprised [about the awards] because there was good competition down there," Anderson said. "The recognition felt good."

Nearly seven years ago, when he suffered his paralyzing injury, Anderson couldn’t envision such successes.

During Memorial Day weekend 1997, he was in North Wildwood with his twin brother Ron, sister Susan and some friends. On the last day of the trip, he was playing around with his brother, who had him in a headlock. They both fell backwards and Eric hit his head. Anderson lay on the floor and felt numb from the chest down. X-rays later revealed he had suffered a spinal cord injury, and doctors told him and his family there was very little chance that he would regain movement in his legs.

At 18, Anderson had to adjust to life as a quadriplegic (the term refers to those with disabilities in both the upper and lower extremities). He had to relearn everything from getting dressed to shaving, as well as learn how to use a wheelchair.

The former St. John Neumann High athlete, who competed in football and track, reconnected with sports when a Magee recreation therapist showed him a video on wheelchair rugby. The contact sport is played on a regulation basketball court with a volleyball. Four players per team are allowed on the court at one time. The objective is to move the ball down the court and cross the goal with possession of the ball. Players may carry the ball, but they must dribble or pass the ball within 10 seconds.

In the past few years, Anderson has helped the Magee Eagles to victory in a number of tournaments.

When he is not competing, Anderson works as a full-time computer support specialist for the School District of Philadelphia. He also helps others by serving as a mentor at Magee for spinal-cord injury patients.

Tonight, he’ll join his teammates at Carousel House for an open practice.

"Six years ago I probably wouldn’t have thought I would be traveling all over and being recognized as much as I am now," Anderson said. "I think I am leading a fulfilled life."

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The Magee Eagles, who compete in tournaments all along the East Coast, are open to anyone in the community with a disability. Magee helps sponsor the team through its annual Night of Champions event, to be held May 7 from 7-10 p.m. at the Sheet Metal Workers Union, 1301 S. Columbus Blvd. Call 215-387-3090.